Quote:
Originally posted by T. A. Gardner:
Actually, most of the Soviet Shermans were the M4A2 or A4 models with diesel engines and all were new production. A good portion were also equipped with the T23 turret and 76mm M1A1 gun. One of the first large scale uses of lend lease Shermans was in Bagration in the summer of 1944 when the entire 1st Guards Tank Army was equipped with Shermans and spearheaded the assault on Army Group Center.
One must realize that at the time the Soviets were absolutlely loathe to admit that the US and West were supplying alot of the equipment their armed forces were using. For example, the USA preceeding the serial number on most US supplied vehicles was explained away as meaning (and I'm sure I'm spelling this wrong) Ubayat Sukemsim Adolfa; or kill that SOB Adolf!
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That said, they did call it the 'grave for 5 brothers' did they not (I may be getting confused here). That said, I've heard a fair few accounts of troops who didn't even know the vehicle was American made.
The short service life of the T34 is an interesting issue, but compare it to the life expectancy of a new tank crew...